How to crochet a rug with Red Heart yarn

Red Heart yarn is a widely available, reasonably priced yarn, manufactured by Coats and Clark. To crochet a rug, work with three strands of Red Heart worsted weight yarn held together. There are a wide variety of colors and styles, but to use it to make a rug, a heavier weight is needed. The variety of effects that can be achieved by experimenting with mixing solid and ombre yarns inspires unlimited creativity. Use leftover yarns in a haphazard pattern to crochet a rug that resembles a rag rug. The amount of yarn needed depends on the size of the rug desired, but 12 to 24 oz. will make a small, oval scatter rug.

The only stitches used are double-crochet, slip-stitch and chain stitch. A simple increase is employed, which is just two double-crochets in one stitch.

Things You'll Need

Size M crochet hook

Chain 11, holding three strands of yarn together. This is the foundation chain on which the rug is made. A chain stitch involves inserting the hook through a loop, wrapping the hook, and pulling only one loop back through.

Work a double-crochet in the fourth chain from the hook and each chain across. A double-crochet stitch begins by wrapping the yarn around the hook before inserting through the chain. Wrap again, and pull back through the chain stitch. Wrap the yarn, and pull through two of the stitches as you remove them from the hook. Repeat this for the remaining two stitches on the hook. Do not turn the work in the normal way. Work three double-crochet in the last chain to turn the corner. Beginning in the same chain, work eight double-crochets up the other side to the end of the foundation chain. Then double-crochet three more times in the ending chain as before. Join with a slip-stitch to the top of the first chain three, and turn the work. To complete a slip-stitch, insert the hook through the stitch, wrap the yarn, and pull back through. Slip through the stitch on the needle as it is removed. There are 22 stitches at this point.

Chain three, which always counts as the first double-crochet stitch. Work an increase in each of the first three end stitches. This type of increase is simply working two double-crochet stitches in the same stitch. Work eight double-crochet stitches down the straight edge of the rug. Increase in each of the three end stitches, and continue working down the other eight stitches of the remaining straight edge of the oval. Join with a slip-stitch to the top of the first stitch of the round and turn the work. There are 28 stitches at this point.

Chain three and work eight double-crochet stitches down the straight edge of the oval. Increase four stitches, evenly placed, over the next six stitches. Stitch eight double-crochet down the other straight edge. Increase four stitches, evenly placed, over the six stitches in the rounded section of the oval. Join with a slip-stitch to the top of the first chain three. Turn the work. There are now 36 stitches.

Chain three, and increase five stitches, evenly placed, over the next 10 stitches. Work eight double-crochet and increase five stitches over the next 10 stitches. Join with a slip-stitch to the top of the first chain three. Turn the work. There are now 46 stitches.

Chain three, and double-crochet eight. Increase six stitches, evenly placed, over the next 15 stitches. Double-crochet eight and increase six over the 15 stitches in the rounded section on the opposite side. Slip stitch to join. Turn the work. There are now 58 stitches.

Chain three, and increase seven stitches over the next 21 stitches. Double-crochet eight and increase seven stitches over the next 21 stitches. Double-crochet eight to the end, join with a slip-stitch to beginning chain three. Turn the work. There are now 72 stitches in the Red Heart yarn rug.

Chain three, and double-crochet eight down the straight section of the rug. Over the next 28 stitches, increase eight stitches, evenly spaced. Work even across the straight edge for eight stitches. Increase eight stitches, in the same way, over the next 28 stitches. Join with a slip-stitch to the top of the beginning chain three. There are now 88 stitches.

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Continue in this manner until the crochet rug reaches the desired size, adding another increase stitch to each end of the oval on every round. Fasten off by cutting the yarn and pulling the end through the last stitch. Weave in the yarn ends so that there are not loose ends hanging off the rug.

Tips & Warnings

Although Red Heart yarn worsted weight yarn is machine washable, it may be a good idea to treat with a stain blocker, especially if it will be in a high-traffic location.

To crochet a rug, increases must be just right. If there are not enough, it will curve up like a bowl. If there are too many increases, it will wave like a floppy hat. Depending on the tension of the crochet, some adjustment may have to be made in the increases.